President Ronald Reagan proclaims the First “Crime Victims’ Rights Week” in April

1982

President Reagan appoints the Task Force on Victims of Crime – Final Report offers 68 recommendations to improve the treatment of crime victims, including an amendment to the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to guarantee victims’ rights to be present & heard at critical stages of judicial proceedings

Congress responds to the 9/11 terrorist acts with new laws providing tax relief, compensation, funding for new services & civil claims as part of the Air & Transportation Safety & System Stabilization Act & the USA Patriot Act of 2001

The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 is passed with some expanded funding & services

The Office for Victims of Crime celebrates its 20th anniversary of service

The Senate Judiciary Committee passes the Federal Victims’ Rights Constitutional Amendment: “But The House Fails to Take Action”

Congress makes the Office on Violence Against Women a permanent independent office

The Protect Act of 2003 (Amber Alert) creates a national network of AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) to facilitate rapid law enforcement & community response to kidnapped or abducted children

Congress passes the Prison Rape Elimination Act to address the issue of rape in correctional institutions

2004

U.S. Congress passed the strongest federal crime victims’ legislation in nation’s history after failure to approve a Federal Constitutional Amendment; H.R. 5107, The Justice For All Act of 2004, strengthens the rights of victims of federal crimes and provides enforcement and remedies when there is failure to comply; Title 1 is named in honor of five victims: Scott Campbell, Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis and Nila Lynn; H.R. 5107 also includes provisions for DNA analysis backlog

The Senate Judiciary Committee passes the Federal Victims’ Rights Constitutional Amendment: “But The House Fails to Take Action”